ASSOCIATED FOOD STORES TO BUY TWO CUSTOMERS

SALT LAKE CITY -- Associated Food Stores here is purchasing two of its retail group customers in a move that would bring the 59-year-old wholesaler into the corporate store business for the first time in its history.Associated, a retailer-owned cooperative that supplies independents in eight Western states, is to purchase the supermarkets owned and operated by Macey's here, and Lin's MarketPlace,

SALT LAKE CITY -- Associated Food Stores here is purchasing two of its retail group customers in a move that would bring the 59-year-old wholesaler into the corporate store business for the first time in its history.

Associated, a retailer-owned cooperative that supplies independents in eight Western states, is to purchase the supermarkets owned and operated by Macey's here, and Lin's MarketPlace, St. George, Utah. The deal includes eight units of Macey's and four of Lin's.